Evansville-based Berry Global Group Inc. has completed the acquisition of a Massachusetts-based plastic bag and film manufacturer. The price of the deal is not being disclosed, but Berry Global says Laddawn Inc. possesses a "unique-to-industry" sales e-commerce platform through its website. Laddawn has manufacturing operations in Massachusetts, Georgia, Nevada, Iowa and Texas.

It currently employs 380 and Berry Global says Laddawn's net sales over the last year totaled more than $145 million with "a proven track record in delivering organic growth." Berry Global Chief Executive Officer Tom Salmon says "we are extremely excited with what Laddawn's proven web and mobile sales platforms will bring to our Engineered Materials portfolio, as well as, the possibility to expand these platforms to include other Berry products. We believe Laddawn's highly-technical online capabilities will support immediate growth, via this e-Commerce platform, to assist in quicker customer response times and small order fulfillments for the faster growing small and medium sized customer base. The combined Laddawn and Berry custom film product portfolio will provide a vast range of product offerings to thousands of valued customers further strengthening our core films business."

It shouldn’t be this hard. The Senate’s Public Policy Committee voted 9-1 in favor of SB-12 this week, a bill that would have codified (as written) hate crime bias to include protections for race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, and age. SB-12 then made its way to the full Senate. Preceded by a lengthy deliberation by the Senate’s Republican caucus, the Senate voted 33-16 in favor of a watered-down...

It shouldn’t be this hard. The Senate’s Public Policy Committee voted 9-1 in favor of SB-12 this week, a bill that would have codified (as written) hate crime bias to include protections for race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, and age. SB-12 then made its way to the full Senate. Preceded by a lengthy deliberation by the Senate’s Republican caucus, the Senate voted 33-16 in favor of a watered-down...

The new head of school at the International School of Indiana says she wants to build on 25 years of growth. Elizabeth Head, who became the school’s first female leader last month, says the school’s reputation for contributing to the workforce and attracting talent from around the world excited her about the job. She says the ISI is the only school of its kind not just in Indiana, but throughout the Midwest. In an interview on Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick...

The Indiana Senate has passed a hate crimes bill, which includes a controversial amendment approved Wednesday in committee. The bill, which no longer includes a list of targeted groups, was approved by a vote of 39-10. The bill now includes a line stating criminal sentences can be lengthened for reasons "including bias."

East Washington School Corp. has announced that East Washington Elementary School is now a participant in the Indiana Rural School Clinic Network. Supported by Ascension/St. Vincent Salem, the school now has a telehealth clinic available to its students and staff.